Google Takes The Pulse of Nations

Google has released a study showing which countries are the world's leading searchers of certain terms in a pretty fun and fascinating view of the zeitgeist. Here are some of the terms and the countries which search for them the most (as long as my totally uninformed reasons for their popularity which are the first things that comes to mind.)

"Hitler"- Germany, Mexico, Austria
(the Anschluss is still full of nazi sympathies. plus everyone loves to be rebellious)
"Nazi"- Chile, Austria, United Kingdom
(same as above but also Harry's costume may be sparking a trend, or maybe historical research because the Nazis did play a part in the British history of last century)
"Gay"- Chile, Mexico, Colombia
(either people in Latin American countries are so macho they don't know what gay is and are doing research or they're all gay and looking to hook up)
"Jihad" - Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan
( muslims are planning a righteous war. obvi)
"Terrorism" - Pakistan, Philippines, Australia
(see above)
"Hangover" - Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
(ah- all these countries like to drink and so suffer the morning after consequences and are looking for a remedy. Notice that the Irish are the number one country in this category, not to perpetuate any stereotypes)
"Burrito" - United States, Argentina, Canada
(burritos are amazing and a perfect slacker stoner food, hence the US and Canada connection.)
"Iraq" - United States, Australia, Canada
(ummmm...Hot Shots!Part Deux?)
"Taliban" - Pakistan, Australia, Canada
(I'm sure there are a few Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan. And Canadians...like beards and are often mistaken for Talibani.)
"Tom Cruise" - Canada, United States, Australia
(we enjoy making fun of his craziness, but that was more of a year ago which is why Canada has searched him more than America; the jumping on the couch fiasco has just made it's way up north)
"Britney Spears" - Mexico, Venezuela, Canada
(crazy needs no translation.)
"Homosexual" - Philippines, Chile, Venezuela
(people in Chile are really interested in the "gay question"-see above- but it could also be a Roman Catholic disapproval like thing with the more clinical "homosexual" being searched instead of "gay")
"Love" - Philippines, Australia, United States
(the Phillipines google this to see if homosexuals are capable of love. The U.S. is finding out what the Beatles Show is about and the Australians are just lovely people)
"Botox" - Australia, United States, United Kingdom
(we're the "western world" and we have disposable income along with an obsession with beauty and youth)
"Viagra" - Italy, United Kingdom, Germany
(can't get it up. I mean have you seen their Heads of State's? Prodi, Brown, Merkel. J/K I actually love Angela)
"David Beckham" - Venezuela, United Kingdom, Mexico
(he's f*cking hot. Oh and those countries love football.)
"Kate Moss" - Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden
(she's f*cking hot and everyone loves train wrecks.)
"Dolly Buster" - Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia
(I have no idea what this term means, but judging from it's popularity in Eastern Europe it's probably weird. And having to do with Russia or communism)[UPDATE: She's a porn star with huge boobs. That explains it.]
"Car bomb" - Australia, United States, Canada
(we all watch too much television and are paranoid. Or we're trying to figure out how to get rid of enemies.)
"Marijuana" - Canada, United States, Australia
(we all love weed)
"IAEA" - Austria, Pakistan, Iran
(Pakistan and Iran have a lot of experience with that agency and are trying to figure out ways to either start or stop impending nuclear war. Or maybe no one knows what that acronym stands for and are trying to figure that out.)
"sex"-Egypt, India, Turkey
(perhaps their countries are so sexually repressed that they search the internet for any kind of titilation or information. I'm not surprised the term searched was just plain "sex" and it was in more repressed countires. Anywhere in the west the search terms would be a lot more specific and crude. God bless freedom.)

and today I'm sure Larry Craig was one of the big things googled because of his interview last night, which I watched of course. But I realized something about how they were advertising the interview with Matt Lauer asking him if he was gay and I knew he wouldn't come out then and say he was because we already would have found out that news. Nothing that big can stay a secret from all of the editors and producers and local affliates; somewhere along the way it would have leaked. But I still watched trying to pick up a clue from his body language, his verbal language offered no clue because he is a life long politician and thus adept at lying. My favorite part was the repeated use of " the bathroom for bathroom sake" or some phrase like that.What I came away from it with was simply that it's really sad that he just can't come out. I kind of felt sorry for him. That he decided he had to live that straight life long ago and now can't escape it. That he came of age at such a time where people couldn't just be, but had to conform and get a wife who you may end up hurting. And I feel kind of bad for his wife who being the partner of a senator especially in a state such as Idaho must have built her life around him and for him to be gay would be devastating; to live with someone and think you know them so well but to find out that it was all a lie is tragic. But it's also sad that Larry is so delusional and so boxed in that he reiterated his disapproval for that lifestyle,which I think he mentioned could be seen in his voting record, there really is no way out. Though it is his grave is his own closet and he can lay in there. And I really hope he keeps fighting, for purely political reasons. If he were to resign then the appointee, if they chose to run for reelection could then point to this year of interim experience as a qualification and asset. But if Larry held onto his seat (and chooses not to seek another term as he may have said once, though his word means very little) then, though it would still be unlikely because it is such a red state, a Democrat could still have a chance to pick up that seat. I'd just repeat "republican," "bathroom," "scandal" over and over again (along with George Bush and Iraq for good measure)

(there. have I offended every country yet?)

Sphere: Related Content